Partner and Head of Youth Crime, Mel Stooks, recently featured alongside Angus Jones from HM Inspectorate of Prisons on the latest Transform Justice podcast episode, “Do the children on remand need to be there?”, which is now live.
 
The podcast explores how many children who are remanded do not need to be there, and that in many cases this is unnecessary. It also raises serious concerns that the settings in which children are held while awaiting trial are not always the right places for them to be.
 
In the episode, Mel discusses the realities of children being remanded into custody and the lasting impact the system can have on vulnerable young people, particularly in the earliest stages of contact with the criminal justice system.
 
She explains that many children in the criminal justice system have vulnerabilities and additional needs that mean they rely heavily on routine and clear expectations. Without this, the sensory environment can become overwhelming.
 
Mel also highlights that the places children are held while awaiting trial are simply ‘not conducive to their welfare’. For many, the experience of custody begins before they even reach a Young Offender Institution, following time spent in police cells - already experiencing significant disruption and harm.
 
The episode offers insight into the realities faced by children in the youth justice system and the challenges in ensuring custody is only used where absolutely necessary. Listen to the full episode here.